Documentary backdrop image for Thunder in the Making (2024)

202461 minPGdocumentary

gender-equality life-stories sports-history

Thunder in the Making

202461 minPGdocumentary

In the hills of Appalachia, 16-year-old Jennifer Johnson defies gender norms by founding a successful full-contact football team that wins a National Championship.

gender-equality life-stories sports-history

Genres

Channel: Stash - Free Documentaries

Thunder in the Making

2024• 61 minPG

Synopsis

In the hills of Appalachia, 16-year-old Jennifer Johnson defies gender norms by founding a successful full-contact football team that wins a National Championship.

Synopsis

In the hills of Appalachia, 16-year-old Jennifer Johnson defies gender norms by founding a full-contact football team, achieving National Championship success. Her story highlights the challenges faced by women in sports, as she navigates societal expectations and personal obstacles. Directed by Anna Swiney, "Thunder in the Making" chronicles Johnson's transformation from a passionate young athlete to a pioneering figure in women's football, showcasing the impact of determination and resilience in a traditionally male-dominated arena.

Comments

What are people saying?

Play More Like This

Undefeated (2011)

Undefeated

2011•1h53m•★7.4TMDB

More than 500 hours of footage were recorded to document the Manassas Tigers' attempts to achieve a winning season in high school football.

More than a Game (2008)

More than a Game

2008•1h45m•★7.3TMDB

Five young basketball players from Akron, Ohio, rise to prominence as they compete for a state championship during the late 1990s.

More than a Game

Shutout! The Battle American Women Wage to Play Baseball | Advocacy Documentary (2024)

Shutout! The Battle American Women Wage to Play Baseball | Advocacy Documentary

Institutional discrimination against American women in baseball is examined through the voices of players aged 9 to 90, including advocates like Justine Siegal and Shirley Burkovich.

Shutout! The Battle American Women Wage to Play Baseball | Advocacy Documentary

From Watts to Olympic Legend: The Untold Story of Flo Jo (2024)

From Watts to Olympic Legend: The Untold Story of Flo Jo

Florence Griffith Joyner's rise from humble beginnings in Watts, California, to becoming an Olympic legend is explored through her family ties and athletic achievements.

From Watts to Olympic Legend: The Untold Story of Flo Jo

Punch Shot (2024)

Punch Shot

Kaila Elsayegh, an 11-year-old golf prodigy and mathematician, achieves success in US Kids Golf and prestigious tournaments through her strategic approach to the sport.

Offside | Sports Documentary | Full Movie (2024)

Offside | Sports Documentary | Full Movie

Nine players train together as they prepare for the upcoming season, focusing on teamwork and strategy under coach Miguel Gaudencio's guidance.

Offside | Sports Documentary | Full Movie

Young Athlete Overcomes Hit And Run - Fight Like Ana (2023)

Young Athlete Overcomes Hit And Run - Fight Like Ana

A young athlete in the United States faces severe injuries from a hit-and-run incident, challenging her aspirations of playing college basketball.

Young Athlete Overcomes Hit And Run - Fight Like Ana

Underexposed: A Women's Skateboarding Documentary (2015) (2024)

Underexposed: A Women's Skateboarding Documentary (2015)

Twelve-year-old Amelia Brodka became obsessed with skateboarding after seeing female skaters perform tricks at the X Games in Philadelphia.

Underexposed: A Women's Skateboarding Documentary (2015)

The Other Side of the Ring - Women Wrestling - Documentary Movie (2021)

The Other Side of the Ring - Women Wrestling - Documentary Movie

Three women share their experiences in professional wrestling, discussing the challenges and triumphs they face in a male-dominated industry.

The Other Side of the Ring - Women Wrestling - Documentary Movie

Louis Theroux Explores America's Strangest City Full Of Dangerous Dogs (2026)

Louis Theroux Explores America's Strangest City Full Of Dangerous Dogs

In Los Angeles, Louis Theroux meets dog owners and enthusiasts whose lives are intertwined with the city's unique and often dangerous canine culture.

Louis Theroux Explores America's Strangest City Full Of Dangerous Dogs

Women Behind Bars in Philippines: How to Survive the Mandaluyong Prison? (2025)

Women Behind Bars in Philippines: How to Survive the Mandaluyong Prison?

Mandaluyong City's Correctional Institution for Women, the oldest women's prison in the Philippines, houses over three thousand inmates amid strict security challenges.

Women Behind Bars in Philippines: How to Survive the Mandaluyong Prison?

The Receptionist: Caridad Cerbito Morales (2025)

The Receptionist: Caridad Cerbito Morales

In a rural pension house in the Philippines, 77-year-old Caridad Cerbito Morales navigates life as a widow while longing to reconnect with her estranged child.

The Receptionist: Caridad Cerbito Morales

Explore Thunder in the Making

Browse more like this

Undefeated (2011)

Undefeated

2011•1h53m•★7.4TMDB

More than 500 hours of footage were recorded to document the Manassas Tigers' attempts to achieve a winning season in high school football.

No digital watch option in your country

More than a Game (2008)

More than a Game

2008•1h45m•★7.3TMDB

Five young basketball players from Akron, Ohio, rise to prominence as they compete for a state championship during the late 1990s.

More than a Game

No digital watch option in your country

Offside | Sports Documentary | Full Movie (2024)

Offside | Sports Documentary | Full Movie

Nine players train together as they prepare for the upcoming season, focusing on teamwork and strategy under coach Miguel Gaudencio's guidance.

Offside | Sports Documentary | Full Movie

No digital watch option in your country

Underexposed: A Women's Skateboarding Documentary (2015) (2024)

Underexposed: A Women's Skateboarding Documentary (2015)

Twelve-year-old Amelia Brodka became obsessed with skateboarding after seeing female skaters perform tricks at the X Games in Philadelphia.

Underexposed: A Women's Skateboarding Documentary (2015)

No digital watch option in your country

Louis Theroux Explores America's Strangest City Full Of Dangerous Dogs (2026)

Louis Theroux Explores America's Strangest City Full Of Dangerous Dogs

In Los Angeles, Louis Theroux meets dog owners and enthusiasts whose lives are intertwined with the city's unique and often dangerous canine culture.

Louis Theroux Explores America's Strangest City Full Of Dangerous Dogs

No digital watch option in your country

Women Behind Bars in Philippines: How to Survive the Mandaluyong Prison? (2025)

Women Behind Bars in Philippines: How to Survive the Mandaluyong Prison?

Mandaluyong City's Correctional Institution for Women, the oldest women's prison in the Philippines, houses over three thousand inmates amid strict security challenges.

Women Behind Bars in Philippines: How to Survive the Mandaluyong Prison?

No digital watch option in your country

Changing the Game (2019)

Changing the Game

2019•1h28m•★6.3TMDB

Transgender high school athletes from across the United States compete at the highest levels while advocating for equality in sports.

Changing the Game

All American (2024)

All American

2024•1h27m•★10.0TMDB

Three young women compete in girl’s wrestling while facing economic divides and traditional gender roles in their high school lives.

See Her Be Her (2024)

See Her Be Her

2024•1h50m•★10.0TMDB

Seven star players in women's baseball share their stories of dedication and talent as they break barriers in the sport and inspire future generations.

Home Games (2018)

Home Games

2018•1h26m•★7.0TMDB

20-year-old football prodigy Alina trains rigorously in Kyiv while facing the challenges of poverty and the pursuit of her athletic dreams.

Touch the Wall (2014)

Touch the Wall

2014•1h41m•★8.0TMDB

2800 people attended the premiere of the film at the Stars Denver Film Festival in 2014, where it focused on swimmers Missy Franklin and Kara Lynn Joyce.

The Heart of the Game (2005)

The Heart of the Game

2005•1h37m•★6.3TMDB

A judge ruled in favor of Darnellia Russell, allowing her to continue playing basketball after she became a mother, despite a WIAA ban.

The Heart of the Game

Go Tigers! (2001)

Go Tigers!

2001•1h43m•★5.4TMDB

The Massillon Tigers football team competes against the Canton McKinley High School Bulldogs during the 1999 regular season in a storied rivalry.

Eye Candy (2019)

Eye Candy

2019•1h•★10.0TMDB

One woman fights for recognition as a wrestler in a male-dominated sport, risking her relationships, job, and health to achieve her dream of a championship title.

26.2 to Life (2023)

26.2 to Life

2023•1h30m•★9.0TMDB

Incarcerated men at San Quentin State Prison train for a marathon through the 1000 Mile Club, sharing personal stories of rehabilitation and hope.

We Grew Wings (2012)

We Grew Wings

2012•1h21m•★10.0TMDB

At the University of Oregon, women's athletics teams face physical challenges and societal barriers while striving for excellence in sports and inspiring future generations.

Top Ground Gear Force (2008)

Top Ground Gear Force

2008•45m•★8.0TMDB

Five-time Olympic gold medalist Sir Steve Redgrave's garden is transformed by the Top Gear crew in a special episode for Sports Relief.

Top Ground Gear Force

The Notorious (2014)

The Notorious

2014•55m•★7.5TMDB

Conor McGregor trains intensely for six months in 2013 and 2014, aiming to become a global superstar in mixed martial arts.

Is this your film?

If you made this film or hold the rights to it, we'd like to talk. We can license it and pay you a share of what it earns.

License it with us →